Let’s face it, not every viral video earns love and applause. Some gather attention for all the wrong reasons, racking up millions of dislikes and stirring up internet-wide debates.
This list dives into the most disliked YouTube videos of all time, from controversial uploads to poorly received content by popular creators. It could be a song, ad, or recap video; these clips made history, just not the kind anyone wants.
Note: This ranking is based on a mix of personal opinion and additional factors such as total dislike count, public backlash, and cultural impact on YouTube and beyond.
What Is the Most Disliked Video on YouTube?
“YouTube Rewind 2018: Everyone Controls Rewind” by YouTube is the most disliked video ever, with 20+ million dislikes. Released on December 5, 2018, it immediately sparked backlash for misrepresenting creator culture and ignoring major community trends.
Viewers expressed mass disappointment, with the video accumulating 20+ million dislikes, far outpacing any other YouTube upload. This remarkable dislike count highlights a rare instance of unified public sentiment and shows just how powerful audience reaction can be on the platform.
Top 10 Most Disliked YouTube Videos Ever
These videos don’t just draw views; they attract massive dislike counts and controversy. Let’s jump into the cringe-filled hall of fame. This ranking lists the top 10 most disliked YouTube videos ever, based on estimated dislike counts (from the last public snapshot in 2021) and the reasons viewers hit the thumbs-down button.
| Rank | Video Title | Channel | Dislikes(approx.) | Reason for Backlash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | YouTube Rewind 2018: Everyone Controls… | YouTube | 19.9 M | Out‑of‑touch representation, missing creators |
| 2 | Baby Shark Dance | Pinkfong Kids’ Songs & Stories | 14.97 M | Annoying repetitive children’s song |
| 3 | Sadak 2 Trailer | Star Studios | 13.67 M | Nepotism, poor content, Bollywood backlash |
| 4 | Baby ft. Ludacris | Justin Bieber | 12.48 M | Overplayed teen pop, polarizing fandom |
| 5 | Johny Johny Yes Papa | LooLoo Kids | 11.95 M | Earworm children’s song driving parents insane |
| 6 | YouTube Rewind 2019: For the Record | YouTube | 9.59 M | Repeat of the 2018 disaster, lackluster celebration |
| 7 | Bath Song | Cocomelon Nursery Rhymes | 8.94 M | Kids’ song overload – parents pushed back |
| 8 | Learning Colors – Colorful Eggs… | Мирошка ТВ (Miroshka TV) | 8.44 M | Creepy visuals, oddly long children’s video |
| 9 | Lakdi ki kathi | Jingle Toons | 7.24 M | Nerve‑grating animation, catchy to the wrong effect |
| 10 | Wheels on the Bus | Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes | 6.90 M | Another nursery rhyme overload angering families |
Now, let’s take a look at the detailed breakdown of these videos.
1. YouTube Rewind 2018: Everyone Controls Rewind
YouTube Rewind 2018: Everyone Controls Rewind was meant to celebrate the year’s biggest creators and trends, but it backfired spectacularly. Packed with forced humor, out-of-touch references, and the absence of major stars like PewDiePie, fans felt it ignored what actually mattered on YouTube.
It quickly became the most disliked video on the platform, symbolizing a disconnect between YouTube and its community, a legacy still referenced in internet culture today.
2. Baby Shark Dance
Baby Shark Dance by Pinkfong is a children’s song that exploded in popularity for its catchy, repetitive tune and colorful animation. While kids adored it, many adults found it unbearably annoying due to its constant repetition and viral overexposure.
Its massive reach, with billions of views, turned it into a meme, but also made it one of the most disliked videos. Unlike the most-viewed music videos on YouTube that typically gain widespread appreciation, Baby Shark became polarizing despite its massive reach.
3. Sadak 2 Trailer
The Sadak 2 Trailer was released in 2020 as a sequel to the 1991 cult film, but it quickly drew massive backlash. Viewers accused it of promoting nepotism in Bollywood, especially after Sushant Singh Rajput’s death.
Directed by Mahesh Bhatt and starring his daughter Alia Bhatt, it became a symbol of industry favoritism. The trailer became one of the most disliked videos on YouTube, cementing its place in internet outrage history.
The controversy surrounding this film’s soundtrack also contrasted sharply with the best movie soundtracks that are celebrated for their artistic merit and cultural impact.
4. Baby ft. Ludacris
Baby by Justin Bieber featuring Ludacris was released in 2010 and became an instant hit among teens. However, it also sparked major backlash from older viewers who found the lyrics repetitive and Bieber’s image overly manufactured.
For years, it held the record as the most disliked video on YouTube. Despite the negativity, “Baby” helped launch Bieber’s global career and remains a pop culture milestone, both loved and hated in equal measure.
Interestingly, while this video faced backlash, Bieber later became one of the most followed musicians on Instagram, showing how public perception can evolve over time.
5. Johny Johny Yes Papa
Johny Johny Yes Papa is a nursery rhyme video uploaded by the channel LooLoo Kids that went viral for its bizarre animation, odd pacing, and unsettling tone. While meant for children, it drew massive attention from adults who found it creepy and nonsensical.
It became part of the “weird YouTube” trend, sparking memes and parody videos. Despite millions of views, it’s also one of the most disliked videos due to its uncanny vibe.
The phenomenon of children’s content dominating YouTube stands in stark contrast to how traditional music genres have evolved and found their audiences on the platform.
6. YouTube Rewind 2019: For the Record
YouTube Rewind 2019: For the Record dropped on December 5, 2019, as YouTube’s final Rewind. Intended to fix the backlash from 2018’s badly-received edition, it instead offered a sterile, data-driven top‑10 clip montage.
Critics called it lazy, low-energy, and corporate, lacking original content or spirit. Despite briefly including PewDiePie and avoiding overt celebs, it still drew over 9.6 million dislikes, becoming the sixth most‑disliked video and ultimately ending the Rewind era.
7. Bath Song
Bath Song by CoComelon, released in May 2018, is a bubbly, colorful nursery rhyme teaching kids the joy of bath time. However, its endless repetition and incessant melody grate on adults, especially overwhelmed parents subjected to looped viewing.
It garnered over 8 million dislikes by late 2021, making it one of the platform’s most disliked children’s videos. Today, it’s both a tool for toddler routines and a meme-worthy earworm symbolizing nursery rhyme backlash.
8. Learning Colors – Colorful Eggs on a Farm
Learning Colors – Colorful Eggs on a Farm by Миро́шка ТВ surfaced a few years ago as a simple kids’ video teaching basic colors with smiling eggs on a farm. Its cheap animation, repetitive narration, and grainy visuals earned it viral infamy – not cute, but weird.
Brandwatch listed it as one of YouTube’s top disliked videos (≈8.5 million dislikes). It now symbolizes the backlash against low-effort algorithm bait.
9. Lakdi ki kathi
Lakdi Ki Kathi by Jingle Toons is a cartoon version of a beloved Hindi nursery rhyme. Released in 2018, it faced backlash for its low-quality animation, robotic singing, and overuse in kids’ video loops.
Many adults found it annoying rather than nostalgic. Despite being made for children, it racked up over 11 million dislikes, making it one of YouTube’s most disliked videos and a symbol of oversaturated kids’ content online.
10. Wheels on the Bus
Wheels on the Bus by CoComelon Nursery Rhymes debuted in May 2018 as a cheerful children’s sing‑along featuring repetitive verses and vivid animation. However, its constant looping and overstimulation grated on many adults, especially tired parents.
Accumulating around 8 million dislikes by late 2021, it became one of YouTube’s most disliked videos. Today, it’s emblematic of the backlash against algorithm‑driven kids’ content dominating the platform.
Honorable Mentions: Other Highly Disliked Videos
Here are some honorable mentions of highly disliked videos that stirred controversy:
| Video Title | Channel | Dislikes (approx.) | Reason for Backlash |
|---|---|---|---|
| “It’s Everyday Bro” | Jake Paul / Team 10 | ~5.4 M | Cringy lyrics (“England is my city”), flex-heavy and juvenile tone |
| “Friday” | Rebecca Black | ~3.5 M | Auto-tuned teenage vocals & simplistic lyrics made it viral for its awkwardness |
| COD Infinite Warfare Trailer | Call of Duty | ~3.9 M | Fans rejected the sci-fi direction of the franchise |
| James Charles “Bye Sister” Response | James Charles | ~3.2 M* (deleted) | Part of a major influencer scandal involving Tati Westbrook |
| “Cliché” | Machine Gun Kelly | Recent | Backlash over MGK’s pop aesthetic and homophobic trolling in comment threads |
*James Charles’s response video was later deleted; it still held one of the highest dislike counts before removal.
The contrast between these controversial videos and successful content is striking. While these videos faced massive backlash, some artists have managed to become the most-streamed artists on Spotify, showing how different platforms can yield vastly different reception for musical content.
Why Are Dislike Counts Hidden on YouTube Now?
In November 2021, YouTube hid public dislike counts to curb targeted dislike attacks, especially on smaller creators. The dislike button still exists, and creators can see counts in YouTube Studio.
The move faced intense backlash from users and even YouTube’s co-founder, who argued it removed a key viewer tool for judging content quality.
Despite criticism, YouTube stated that it has helped reduce harassment and confirmed that dislikes continue to influence the algorithm and recommendations.
Can You Still Track YouTube Dislikes in 2025?
YouTube still hides public dislike counts, but users can estimate them using third-party tools and viewer signals.
1. Browser extensions like Return YouTube Dislike (available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Brave) restore approximate dislike numbers. These tools use archived data, user input, and YouTube’s API to generate estimates. However, accuracy can vary depending on API changes and limited access to data.
2. Web-based tools such as TimeSkip’s Free YouTube Dislike Viewer also allow users to paste a video link and get estimated like-to-dislike ratios.
3. Engagement clues are another way fans guess a video’s reception, by comparing like ratios and reading comment trends to detect negative sentiment.
Finally, creators still have access to dislike counts in the Engagement tab of YouTube Studio, and dislikes continue to impact YouTube’s internal recommendation system, even if they’re no longer visible to the public.
Conclusion: YouTube Rewind 2018 Tops The Most Disliked List!
Despite YouTube hiding dislike counts, “YouTube Rewind 2018” remains the most disliked video of all time. From cringeworthy music videos to tone-deaf ads, this list shows how quickly public opinion can shift against creators and brands.
The top 3 YouTube Rewind 2018, Sadak 2 Trailer, and Baby by Justin Bieber earned their spot due to unmet expectations, fan backlash, or just plain awkwardness.
Doesn’t matter if it’s viral infamy or genuine outrage, dislikes still reflect viewer sentiment, and thanks to browser tools and creator analytics, they’re far from gone.
FAQs
Heavy dislikes reduce video visibility, hurt creator revenue, and signal negative content to YouTube’s algorithm.
Creators can delete videos anytime, removing all engagement metrics including likes, dislikes, and comments permanently.
Dislikes don’t directly impact ad revenue, but reduced engagement and visibility can lower overall earnings.
YouTube Rewind 2018 accumulated millions of dislikes within hours, setting records for rapid negative engagement.
Dislikes provide feedback, boost engagement metrics, and can increase visibility through controversy and discussion.
